Chapter 5
Their godparents could be merciful at times. This could be seen from the simple fact that they agreed to put vetoes on some of the names they invented for them. Of course, they had as much fun as possible creating the most embarrassing and horrible combinations out of spite, still annoyed by the act done in secret, but they soon found something suitable for them.
Their animagus forms had been named the night before they returned to school, respectively, with the names: goldclaw for Harry and nightshade (which could mean the shadow of the night or be the translation of belladonna poison) for Daisy.
Being in a room alone with her brother for weeks allowed her to be updated on everything she had missed. Unable to tell him about Theo, she reciprocated by asking him if he wanted to play a joke on some Ravenclaws who were treating Luna badly.
“ Are they the same ones who steal her things? “ Harry asked, interested in her offer. When Daisy nodded, he readily accepted, asking her what she had in mind to do.
“ We will take a hint from our dear parents. “ the girl replied, freezing immediately after the words left her mouth.
“ I think of them that way, too.” Her brother reassured her, smiling sadly. “ Do you think our real parents would mind? “
“ I don't think so, but maybe Sirius and Remus would. “ reasoned Daisy. “ Let's test the waters and when we return for the next vacation we will try to talk to them about it. “
“It must be a joke to teach them a lesson. “ Harry said, going back to the previous topic so he wouldn't have to think for the moment about how Sirius and Remus might react to something like that. “ I don't want to copy the marauders but do something that would make them proud. “
“ Every time they think or say something horrible about Luna in their heads a new lock of colored hair will sprout. “ proposed the girl.
“ Do you think that's enough? >> asked her brother, proposing to also add that their hands would have thief written on them if they tried to take anything from her. “ It would be like a tribute to Umbridge, she would absolutely hate it. “
“ It will be difficult but I'm sure we can do it! “ she announced, grabbing some books she knew would come in handy. “ The Weasley twins will never recover when they realize they have competition. “
“ We are the better twins after all. “ smiled Harry, amused.
After hours spent trying experiments that resulted in Daisy having a few pink locks in her hair, the two brothers decided to take a break and go downstairs for a snack. Once they saw the state of her hair, Molly gave poor Fred and George a bad time.
“ Molly, they really had nothing to do with it this time. “ Harry admitted, embarrassed and amused. “ We were getting bored and tried to make a potion that didn't go well. That was the result. “
Molly then tried to turn them back to their natural color but when nothing happened she gave up on it. “ Don't worry, they will disappear on their own. “
“ What a shame, I really like them. “ said Daisy before going to the kitchen to ask Kreacher if he could prepare a quick snack. She was the only one with the task of talking to the elder elf because no one had the patience to put up with his insults. Hermione for some absurd reason was convinced that all elves were mistreated and did not want to hear reason so she did not even try to talk about it.
“ Do you have any preference, Miss Potter? “ asked the elf, muttering between his teeth a few phrases about blood traitors as he was wont to do.
“ I'm sure everything will be great. “ she smiled at him, taking a seat in the kitchen so she could keep him company. Although he was an unpleasant being to hear because of the horrible things he mumbled, Daisy felt bad for him. She only hoped that with time he would be healed enough to afford a new loving family. She often asked him questions about his past so she could build a relationship with him, but he never answered.
“ Kreacher, how was Sirius as a child? “ the girl asked, watching as the little being in front of her used magic to create a meal that surely rivaled Molly's. In everyone's eyes he still looked like the usual grumpy elf, but she knew that the attention she gave him each day was rewarded with an improvement in chores.
“ Master Sirius was a good heir before he betrayed the family. “ replied the elf, surprising her. “ He was always protecting the young master. “
“ Regulus? You must miss him very much. “ said Daisy sympathetically, knowing from Sirius' stories of how attached the elf was to Walburga and Orion Black's youngest son.
“ Always. “ nodded the elf before frowning, sad. “ I failed Master Regulus' last task. I am a bad elf. “
“ I am sure he would not be angry with you. “ she tried to comfort him, asking if there was anything she could do to help.
“ The young lady can perhaps help Kreacher. “ the elf nodded, taking her by the hand and dragging her away from the kitchen. The food now forgotten as he dragged her into what he assumed was the creature's room. He rummaged through various items that should have been out of the house and pulled a locket from the pile.
“ Master Regulus ordered me to destroy it but I failed. “ Kreacher admitted, looking at the locket with rancor.
The girl squinted as she took it in her hands. Besides being full of what she suspected was dark magic, the appearance looked like that of the Salazar Slytherin locket she had seen in one of the books she had read long ago at school. “ I'll have to research what it might be, but I'll help you. Can you tell me if Regulus was reading any books before he gave you this locket? “
The elf denied it before returning to the kitchen as if nothing had happened. Daisy had seen for the first time a part of what Kreacher must once have been, before years of constant nastiness tainted his brain. Taking advantage of everyone's distraction, she returned to her room and hid the locket in the depths of her trunk. She sighed and thought that soon she would have to find a safe place to hide her stuff.
“ What are you doing? “ Harry asked, behind her back.
“ I was getting a sweater. “ she said, grabbing one from the pile and slipping it on. “ Kreacher made me a snack, do you want to join me or do you want to stay with your friends? “
“ They're spending time with Mr. Weasley, I don't want to intrude. “ Embarrassed Harry admitted, following her into the kitchen. “ Ron says we have a strange relationship because we tell each other everything and don't act like him and Ginny. “
“ We don't exactly tell each other everything. “ the girl squirmed, cursing Ron and his meddling.
“ Since when? “ snorted Harry, amused. Noticing his sister's distressed look, he turned serious. “ It must not be a good thing if you think you have to hide it from me. “
“ Kreacher, could you leave us alone and quiet the room? “ Daisy asked, smiling when the elf agreed without complaint. At her brother's stunned look, the girl explained that it was part of one of the secrets she was keeping. “ I'll just have to do some research and once I'm sure of something, I swear I'll let you in on it. We have always worked together so I won't leave you out suddenly. “
“ Good. “ Harry admitted, albeit reluctantly. “ What else are you hiding? I won't tell anyone, you have my word. “
“ At the beginning of the year I befriended a person. I will keep his identity a secret for the time being. I'm not doing this because I don't trust you but because if someone were to find out for him things would not look good. “ She quickly clarified.
“ A boy? “ Harry asked, furrowing his brow. “ How do you keep your friendship a secret? Surely I would have seen you on the map. “
“ The first two months we only met in the kitchens at crazy times of the night, I guess we were lucky. “
“ While now you use the Room of Requirement, which does not appear on the map. “ Harry came to the conclusion. “ So you're asking me to give you the map so I can't spy on you or ... “
“ I'm asking you, if you ever find out, not to cause a crazy scene and to come and talk to me about it like we've always done. “ she corrected him.
“ Is it Malfoy? “ the boy asked horrified. He calmed down when she mocked him for such nonsense. “ He's a Slytherin for sure, otherwise I wouldn't have caused any scenes. “
“ We said no investigation. “ she scolded him, immediately calling him a traitor.
“ Hanging out with that elf will make you like him. “ He stuck his tongue out at her before running away when she threw a fork at him.